Councillors asked to amend PHACS

COFFS Harbour City councillors will be asked to amend the Draft Priority Habitats and Corridors Strategy 2010-2030 at tomorrow’s meeting.

The staff report on submissions received while the draft PHACS was on public exhibition also recommends that the document be subject to further public exhibition and consultation; presents revised draft PHACS mapping and recommends a process to translate this into the draft Standard Instrument Local Environment Plan.

The report says: “Significant changes have been made to the original draft PHACS mapping based on the submissions received during the public exhibition and discussions with stakeholders and relevant State Government departments.”

PHACS identifies areas of national parks, nature reserves and high conservation lands and provides linking corridors between them.

It aims to preserve the area’s significant biodiversity by allowing species of plants and animals to thrive and maintain healthy populations.

The draft PHACS drew much criticism, especially from rural landholders, with many saying farmers were once again being asked to bear the full brunt of conservation and the measures proposed would restrict their access to their timber and have future consequences for their use of their land.